Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2008)
10 m J on H elmkamp ___________ co-Editor-in-Chief For decades, baseball has been America's favorite pastime, and has also given fathers and sons a chance to connect while playing catch in the yard, participating in Little League, or watching baseball's greats play America's game. For most, the relationship between father, son and baseball comes to an end as the son grows up, but not for the coaching team of Mike Lord, Varsity Baseball coach, and his father, Greg, who joined his son's coaching staff last season. "The day Mike was bom, he was at th e b a llp a r k with a ball in his hand. He grew up around me and other coaches and has had good role models. He's seen ways to coach and not to coach and has taken what May Features City High School. Mike was always present while his father coached, observing firsthand what would later help shape the coach that he has become. Members of the team have responded in a very positive way to having the elder Lord on staff. He has served as a voice of wisdom for the team as well as adding personality. "He definitely makes it a fun season. He has a ton of phrases that he uses like 'Holy moly, jumping up and down Martha' and 'Green away.' I don't even know what that means," Joe Offer, senior, said. "But he definitely has experience. We all listen because he knows what he's talking about. He's been around (baseball) for a long time," Greg has been a coach for 30 years at the high school, while he was still a student at Pacific Lutheran University. "It was interesting, I was coaching guys only a couple years older than I was. My first coaching job was when I was a senior in high school, coaching an eighth grade baseball team," Greg said. He has coached at Lewis & Clark College and at different high schools including Roosevelt, Mike Lord, Varsity Baseball coach (7), talks with starting pitcher, Kyle Kraus, senior^" Beaverton and other infielders during a tough inning in the first round game against South'-* Medford. Behind the arm of Kraus and his 12 strikeouts, West Linn advanced to the Madison and second round with a 7-4 win. Photo by Jon Helmkamp Oregon City. Mike Lord was too much to resist. knowledge of the game has enticed his father to join "When I retired from made a strong impression on him when the head coach Oregon City and was asked his son and members of the "That would be the biggest win, knowing that he made a difference." he likes and included it in his coaching style," Greg said. Greg was also Mike's high school baseball coach for four years at Oregon collegiate and semi-pro level. In the mid 70s, he coached the Beaverton team in the short-lived Collegiate Semi-Pro League of Portland at Oregon City stepped down. The opportunity to work alongside his son and an easy transition to the * coaching staff and its style Mike Lord, Varsity Baseball coach, and his father and assistant coach, Greg, talk between innings near the dugout during a home game against Lake Oswego. Mike considers Greg’s experience and knowledge of the game a great asset to the baseball program. Photo by Jon Helmkamp to come over here, I said, 'Sure, I'll come over as a volunteer.' I'm here just to be another set of eyes and to help in any way I can. I've been here just to watch and observe so he can grow and develop his own style," Greg said. "We coach pretty much the same way," Mike said. "I learned from him and teach my players the same way he taught me. It's been really good for him to see me coach the same way he did. Nothing has really changed from the way that he coached me." Despite having very similar coaching styles, Greg can't help but notice a difference between him and his son. He thinks that Mike has a much better grasp on how to handle himself than Greg did at his age. "When I was his age I was probably getting thrown out of games and fighting with the umpires. He has a lot cooler head at his age than I did," Greg said. Greg's experience and team as well. "It's been great having him on staff; he's been a consistent presence. Having someone who's seen every situation in baseball has been a calming presence for the kids," Mike said. Members of the team have noticed a change in their head coach since his father has been on staff. "He's (Mike) probably more laid back because he knows he has his dad there, and he knows that his dad knows everything that he does. He probably feels that he doesn't have to crack down on everything because he knows that if he misses anything, his dad will catch it," Offer said. Mike Lord has coached against his dad over the years, but was happy with the change in seeing his dad on his side of the field. "It's been great competing with him on common ground. After seeing him in Oregon City colors, it's great seeing him in green and gold," Mike said. Lord Legacy continued on page 11
